Terms Applying Only to Narrowboats and the Canals
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TERMS APPLYING ONLY TO NARROWBOATS AND THE CANALS By Jeffrey Casciani-Wood A narrowboat or narrowboat is a boat of a distinctive design, built to fit the narrow canals of Great Britain. Wikipedia This glossary covers terms that apply only to narrowboats and their environs and is included because the author firmly believes that the marine surveyor, in order to do his job properly, needs to understand extensively the background and history of the vessel he is surveying. Abutment The supporting or retaining wall of a brick, concrete or masonry structure, particularly where it joins the item (e.g. bridge girder or arch) which it supports. Advanced Electronic means of managing the charge to the batteries from the Alternator engine's alternator(s). Ensures that the batteries are more fully charged Controller and can increase useful battery life. Aegre Tidal bore or wave which is set up by the first of a flood tide as it runs up the river Trent and the word is sometimes spelt Aegir. Air Draught The overall height of a vessel measured from the water line to the highest fixed part of the superstructure. Ait A small island in the upper reaches of the river Thames and the word is sometimes spelt eyot. Anærobes Micro organisms, many exceedingly dangerous to human health, that live in the absence of free oxygen and often to be found in the condensate water settled at the bottom of diesel fuel tanks. Care is required when bleeding a fuel/water separator or when cleaning out fuel tank as their presence can lead to fuel oil problems. Anchor A heavy iron or steel implement for securing a boat to the sea or river bed and fitted with partly swivelling flukes that bite into most types of bottom to give a firm purchase. Narrowboats are extremely weighty and need large heavy anchors when on river Navigations (q.v.). When dropped, the angle at which anchor presents itself to the bottom is critical for obtaining a swift hold and is governed by the way the Cable (q.v.) is constructed. Anchor Hold The grip of an anchor upon the ground. Anchor Stock The cross bar of an anchor which causes one or other of the flukes to turn to the bottom. Animal Often along the canals pronounced hanimal and a boatman's name for a donkey or mule. Often used in pairs as they are not as powerful as horses. Anode (or sacrificial anode) Replaceable, large piece of metal usually magnesium, fitted to the hull under the waterline, designed to corrode due to galvanism or electrolysis instead of the hull. Annual inspection for wastage/possible replacement is usual at which time it is normal to clean the hull and apply Blacking (q.v.). Anser Pin A steel pin attached, immediately before the counter, to either or both gunwales of Motors (q.v.) and Butties (q.v.) to which straps from the after dollies or studs of both boats can be tightly hooked or shackled when Breasting Up (q.v.). That not only keeps the sterns together but also acting as a spring and stopping the Pair (q.v.) from riding forwards and backwards against each other. Tunnel Hooks (q.v.) can also be attached here. Anti Cavitation A plate, usually attached to the weed hatch cover, that is flush, or almost Plate flush, to the Uxter Plate (q.v.) so that it closes off the underside of the Weed Hatch (q.v.) aperture. Antifouling Paint applied underwater to inhibit weed growth on the hull. Usually applied to river and canal cruisers rather than narrowboats the steel hulls of which are invariably coated with bitumen paint, which has some antifouling characteristics. APCO The Association of Pleasure Craft Operators – an organization that represents the narrow boat hire industry and a subsidiary body of BMIF (q.v.). Aqueduct Often pronounced akkyduck by old boatmen. A bridge which carries a waterway over a valley, road or river etc., and constructed to avoid the expense of providing a number of inconvenient locks. Arm A dead end branch off a main canal, built to service a town, quarry or mine etc. Astern (1) Area or something behind or abaft the vessel. (2) Of a boat:- going backwards or of an engine when in reverse gear (note, the boat may still be going forwards). AWCC Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs – an organization for the numerous boat clubs of Britain's inland waterways. Back Door Or Back End Door. A door in the bulkhead at the after end of a narrowboat's hold leading into back cabin or engine hole. Back End Beam Or Bulkhead/Cabin Beam. See cross-beam. Backering If a well trained horse could be trusted to tow a boat whilst unattended by a handler when the horse was said to be backering. Back End Rail An often slightly curved, iron rail running across the full width of an exterior of the back cabin's forward bulkhead of a narrowboat some distance above the Back End Beam (q.v.) with a heavy iron ring able to slide across to either end and to which a boat handling strap may be fixed. Back End Rings Large iron rings, one each side of boat, fitted to the after cabin's bulkhead where there is no Back End Rail (q.v.), to which boat handling straps are attached. Back Pumping A hydraulic control system whereby water can be pumped up hill at lock flights so that water lost from the higher pound can be replaced at times when there is a water shortage. Bad Road A stretch of canal where many or all the locks are turned round against the boat’s direction of travel and need to be either filled or emptied before entering, making for a slower passage. The opposite situation is called a Good Road. Bail, to (verb) To remove water by hand from the Bilges (q.v.). Balance Beam Wooden or metal beam projecting from a lock gate (or lift bridge), to counterbalance the weight of the gate (or bridge) and thus allow leverage for opening and closing it. Balance Plate An extension of the rudder blade mounted forward of the rudderstock. The plate which is also known as the Flight Plate (q.v.) is normally of about one fifth the area of that of the rudder blade and balances the rudder and reduces the hydrodynamic torque required to turn it enabling the rudder to be moved across the water flow with less effort. Ballast Loose, heavy material (e.g. stone or iron) strategically placed within a hull to increase a boat's displacement and thus its stability and also to correct a list or poor trim. Banbury Stick Short length of shaft or pole about three to four feet long with a line attached and used for propping open lift bridge between the end of its deck and the deck sill just a sufficient amount to allow a boat to pass under. The Steerer (q.v.) holds the line and pulls the stick away when the stern has passed under, to close the bridge, saving much time by avoiding having to stop and properly closing a fully opened bridge. Not recommended. Bank Effect The tendency for the stern to swing out from the bank when the engine is in reverse due to some of the water thrust from propeller rising up between the boat and the bank and pushing the boat away. Barge Not an alternative word for a narrowboat but any canal vessel over seven feet wide. There are over two hundred different types of barge that range from dumb lighters, Tom Puddings etc. to Liverpool short boats and Mersey/Weaver flats. The term barge is, however, often rudely used by boat builders and repairers to describe a narrowboat which they consider to be of poor quality. See also Wide Beam Narrowboat. However, some Dutch style barges have been copied in narrow width versions for use on narrow canals. Bascule Bridge An opening bridge with its deck swinging vertically from one end. Possibly counterbalanced by overhead arms or weights beneath the surface. A bridge which opens horizontally is called a Swing Bridge (q.v.). Basin A partly enclosed area of water at the terminus of, or at a point alongside, a canal or other Navigation (q.v.) comprising wharves and moorings. Bat Boatman's name for one of the number of blades that makes up a narrowboat's propeller. See Blades. Battery See Advanced Alternator Controller. Management System Battle Cruiser A British canal colloquial name for a narrowboat that is a (usually somewhat battered) part of a hire fleet. BCN Initials by which the Birmingham Canal Navigations (q.v.) are often known, an extensive and intricate network in and around Birmingham, reduced from an original 160 miles to a little over a still impressive 100 miles. Still in substantial commercial use as late as the mid 1960's. Bed Cupboard Full height cupboard, often highly decorated, traditionally at the port side fore end of a boatman's cabin, forward of table cupboard the front of which lets down to form the containing the Cross Bed (q.v.) for which the cupboard contains the bedding. Bed Hole Pronounced bed'ole. In a traditional Boatman's Cabin (q.v.) the area behind the transverse curtains and lace containing, when let down, the Cross Bed (q.v.). Before Forward or ahead of. Bell Oil To work or hit someone or something very hard is to give it some bell oil e.g. to work an engine at full throttle.